Mix-up over green waste

Ahmad Sadjadian with his green waste and the flyer sent out by Swindon Council

SWINDON Council caused a scare in Common Platt as they leafleted 100 houses informing them of changes to green waste collections which did not apply to them.

Following a public consultation, the council decided to impose an optional £40 annual charge for green waste collections, and to move recycling collections from weekly to fortnightly.

And on Monday flyers informing residents of the changes went out across the borough, including the Common Platt area, which is serviced by North Wiltshire District Council.

While most residents realised the mistake, others were surprised they could be hit with a charge next month.

Ahmad Sadjadian, 56, of Beech Drive, said: “I thought it applied to me. It just said which date it would start on, so that was a bit of a surprise.

“They said the last day they would be collecting on, so I took it I would have to pay.

“I had already decided I was going to pay the charge, so this is certainly a relief.”

Hamed Sadati, 37, of Beech Drive, said: “We got it through the door on Monday, and I thought it was from North Wiltshire.

“I read it quickly and did not realise it would not apply to me. It is good news that I don’t have to pay.”

The border between Swindon and North Wiltshire is drawn roughly along Swinley Drive.

“It is an easy mistake to make,” said Hamed.

“Technically we are in Swindon, so I don’t know why this estate belongs to Wiltshire. This is called Common Platt, and the other side of Swinley Drive is Swindon.

“If they are going to do these flyers they need to make sure the person doing it knows where to go.”

Another Beech Drive resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “We knew this was happening in Swindon, so when it came through the door I did not read it properly and thought great, now they are doing the same thing here.

“When you read it properly you realise it does not apply to you.

“We are being consumed by developments, and they will be considered Swindon while we remain North Wiltshire..

“If it comes through your door you assume it applies to you.”

A Swindon Council spokesman said: “We are currently delivering a leaflet to all households in the borough about recycling collections soon becoming fortnightly and the introduction of an optional, paid-for green waste collection service, so residents are informed about the changes.

“Unfortunately a small number of streets lie on the North Wiltshire side of the Swindon boundary and have been leafleted in error. We apologise to any residents who have received this information which does not apply to them.”

Comments (8)

The article is not quite accurate, one side of Swinley Drive is not North Wilts and one side is not Swindon. There are only parts of it that this is pertinent to. I live in Swindon (on the same side of Swinley Drive as the gentleman in the article but Wilts Council forever putting stuff through our letterbox. I'm not surprised that deliveries were confused. They outsource delivery and there's no obvious boundary anymore so bound to happen.

The article is not quite accurate, one side of Swinley Drive is not North Wilts and one side is not Swindon. There are only parts of it that this is pertinent to. I live in Swindon (on the same side of Swinley Drive as the gentleman in the article but Wilts Council forever putting stuff through our letterbox. I'm not surprised that deliveries were confused. They outsource delivery and there's no obvious boundary anymore so bound to happen.Wildwestener

SBC don't seem to be handling this new waste collections very well (no surprises there I know) and they haven't even come into force yet. The leaflet we had a few weeks back, and advertised on their website, said that you could collect a new recycling box from certain locations after a certain date. Yet they failed to deliver the boxes to the locations so hundreds of people turned up to collect one for them not to be there. Logistical problems the cause apparently. Incompetence more likely. Shambles yet again.

SBC don't seem to be handling this new waste collections very well (no surprises there I know) and they haven't even come into force yet. The leaflet we had a few weeks back, and advertised on their website, said that you could collect a new recycling box from certain locations after a certain date. Yet they failed to deliver the boxes to the locations so hundreds of people turned up to collect one for them not to be there. Logistical problems the cause apparently. Incompetence more likely. Shambles yet again.CocoaClown

CocoaClown wrote:
SBC don't seem to be handling this new waste collections very well (no surprises there I know) and they haven't even come into force yet. The leaflet we had a few weeks back, and advertised on their website, said that you could collect a new recycling box from certain locations after a certain date. Yet they failed to deliver the boxes to the locations so hundreds of people turned up to collect one for them not to be there. Logistical problems the cause apparently. Incompetence more likely. Shambles yet again.

Not to mention that if like us, you recycle as much as my household (3 full boxes a week - four adults in my house) then one extra box is insufficient. STill it's alright, SBC tells us in their leaflet we can drive to the recycling centre. I don't think they've quite got the hang of this environmental lark. Complete joke. Any Councillor who supported this move will not be getting my vote come May.

[quote][p][bold]CocoaClown[/bold] wrote:
SBC don't seem to be handling this new waste collections very well (no surprises there I know) and they haven't even come into force yet. The leaflet we had a few weeks back, and advertised on their website, said that you could collect a new recycling box from certain locations after a certain date. Yet they failed to deliver the boxes to the locations so hundreds of people turned up to collect one for them not to be there. Logistical problems the cause apparently. Incompetence more likely. Shambles yet again.[/p][/quote]Not to mention that if like us, you recycle as much as my household (3 full boxes a week - four adults in my house) then one extra box is insufficient. STill it's alright, SBC tells us in their leaflet we can drive to the recycling centre. I don't think they've quite got the hang of this environmental lark. Complete joke. Any Councillor who supported this move will not be getting my vote come May.Wildwestener

beach1e wrote:
the council have chosen to stop proper collections from the end of January, so im waiting on a rebate on the council tax for the remaining two months of the council tax year.

But "We have not increased council tax" the Tories cry. Despite culling public services and selling off what is left.

[quote][p][bold]beach1e[/bold] wrote:
the council have chosen to stop proper collections from the end of January, so im waiting on a rebate on the council tax for the remaining two months of the council tax year.[/p][/quote]But "We have not increased council tax" the Tories cry. Despite culling public services and selling off what is left.Davey Gravey

CocoaClown wrote:
SBC don't seem to be handling this new waste collections very well (no surprises there I know) and they haven't even come into force yet. The leaflet we had a few weeks back, and advertised on their website, said that you could collect a new recycling box from certain locations after a certain date. Yet they failed to deliver the boxes to the locations so hundreds of people turned up to collect one for them not to be there. Logistical problems the cause apparently. Incompetence more likely. Shambles yet again.

Not to mention that if like us, you recycle as much as my household (3 full boxes a week - four adults in my house) then one extra box is insufficient. STill it's alright, SBC tells us in their leaflet we can drive to the recycling centre. I don't think they've quite got the hang of this environmental lark. Complete joke. Any Councillor who supported this move will not be getting my vote come May.

Hundreds of people turned up?!! Are you sure?

[quote][p][bold]Wildwestener[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]CocoaClown[/bold] wrote:
SBC don't seem to be handling this new waste collections very well (no surprises there I know) and they haven't even come into force yet. The leaflet we had a few weeks back, and advertised on their website, said that you could collect a new recycling box from certain locations after a certain date. Yet they failed to deliver the boxes to the locations so hundreds of people turned up to collect one for them not to be there. Logistical problems the cause apparently. Incompetence more likely. Shambles yet again.[/p][/quote]Not to mention that if like us, you recycle as much as my household (3 full boxes a week - four adults in my house) then one extra box is insufficient. STill it's alright, SBC tells us in their leaflet we can drive to the recycling centre. I don't think they've quite got the hang of this environmental lark. Complete joke. Any Councillor who supported this move will not be getting my vote come May.[/p][/quote]Hundreds of people turned up?!! Are you sure?Jocksaway

Apparently SBC spent 21k on bins BEFORE! they'd canvassed residents as to whether they'd be willing to pay for the service. Initially they were going to charge £70 pa - when everybody said "bowlocks" the revised cost came out at £40 - Muppets! Am I paying? Not on your Nellie - compost bin or bonfire for me!

Apparently SBC spent 21k on bins BEFORE! they'd canvassed residents as to whether they'd be willing to pay for the service. Initially they were going to charge £70 pa - when everybody said "bowlocks" the revised cost came out at £40 - Muppets! Am I paying? Not on your Nellie - compost bin or bonfire for me!The Jockster